The Benefits of Using a Vertical Baler for Your Business

July 03, 2023 06:22 AM

The Benefits of Using a Vertical Baler for Your Business

Vertical balers help businesses and facilities manage waste, recycling, and storage by reducing waste material space. Operators can place lightweight packaging like plastic film and cardboard into the machine to make compact bales.


Improve your waste management efficiency to follow more sustainable business practices, improve workflows, and maximize the use of your space. Discover the benefits of using a vertical baler for your business.

Streamline Recycling

Recycling is a key component of sustainability for businesses that use ample packaging materials. Vertical balers improve recycling by compacting recyclable materials into bales that are easier to handle and transport.


Bales can be sold to recycling centers or waste management companies, generating additional revenue for the business while promoting eco-friendly initiatives. Many recycling companies prefer ready-made bales, making your vertical baler a necessary recycling tool.

Save Space

Vertical balers compress materials into compact bales, significantly reducing the storage space required for waste. Cardboard balers can reduce the material size by 80 to 90 percent, and freeing up valuable floor space improves organization and helps you optimize how you use your facility’s square footage.

Space Required for Vertical Balers vs. Horizontal Balers

Businesses can use vertical balers or horizontal balers. Vertical balers compress space with downward force, whereas horizontal balers use a horizontal force. There are several other differences between vertical and horizontal balers, but if you want a machine that takes up minimal space, choose a vertical baler.

Improve Safety

Another benefit of using a vertical baler for your business is improving workplace safety. Vertical balers are equipped with features such as emergency stop buttons and security systems that detect failures and stop the machine—for example, many machines will not run with the door open.


A streamlined exterior design also makes vertical balers safe for use. Workers won’t get caught on exterior moving parts or protruding components.

Essential Tip: Train Staff on Safe Practices

While smart design eliminates or significantly reduces risks, staff must also know how to operate the machine safely. Additionally, employees should wear protective clothing that the vertical baler manufacturer recommends, such as gloves and earplugs.

Save on Cost

Reducing your business’s waste volume can translate to significant cost savings. Baled waste costs less to dispose of because it takes fewer trips to transport the materials. If your business can generate revenue by selling the compacted bales, that’s another way to recuperate your money.


When shopping for your baler, compare manual and automatic machines. Manual balers typically cost less up-front, but they require more operator hours. In contrast, automatic machines are a higher up-front investment, but they help lower operator hours and can process waste faster.

Use With Ease

Vertical balers perform a beneficial service, and they’re also easy to use. There are four general steps to using a vertical baler:

Sort the Waste

First, sort the trash into recyclable and non-recyclable waste. You won’t be able to sort the material during and after compaction.

Fill the Chamber

Second, place the material into the compacting chamber. Once you have filled the chamber, instruct the machine to begin the compacting process. The thrusters will crush the material and minimize the space used by waste.

Refill the Chamber

After compacting the material, you can automatically or manually open the machine again to reveal more space in the chamber. Load the baler from the top until it is full, then instruct the machine to compact the waste again.

Tie and Remove the Bale

Once the machine has processed its limit, it will alert you the bale is ready for ejection. The machine may eject the bale automatically, or an employee may remove it manually.


Next, tie the bale to keep the material together, then automatically or manually load the bale onto a pallet. Finally, move the bale into the disposal area.

Use Where Needed

Vertical balers are versatile machines that handle various materials, including cardboard, plastic, paper, and more. This versatility makes them suitable for businesses across different industries, such as retail, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.


Vertical balers provide a practical solution for consolidating packaging waste and managing production by-products. Industrial vertical balers can be stationary or mobile.

Tips for Choosing the Right Machine

Different machines are capable of processing different materials and amounts. These machines also produce different bale sizes and weights.

To find the most useful machine for your business, consider the following factors:

  • The materials you will bale
  • The quantity and frequency of baling
  • Desired bale size
  • Available space for the machine
  • Available safety- and performance-enhancing features
  • Your budget

Save Time

Time is a valuable resource in any business. Vertical balers help save time by simplifying the waste management process.

The efficient loading, compression, and baling operations reduce the time and effort required to handle and dispose of waste materials. Use this recuperated time to focus on core operations, use labor for other tasks, and improve overall productivity.

Essential Tip: Sort As Soon as Possible

Whether you have an automatic or manual baling machine, you must manually sort the waste material before placing it into the baling compartment. Speed up the sorting process by having employees sort materials at the source rather than letting different types of materials mix before moving to the baler.

Comply With Regulations

Due to a greater understanding of the impact of supply chain practices on the environment, regulatory agencies are making environmental regulations and waste management standards increasingly stringent. Businesses must comply with these regulations in order to avoid fines and penalties.


By utilizing a vertical baler, businesses can ensure compliance with waste management requirements, such as proper waste handling, recycling, and documentation.


Vertical balers streamline recycling, minimize the space waste material and by-products take up, promote worker safety, and help control waste management costs. Vertical balers are easy to use wherever you need them, save time, and can help your business comply with waste management regulations.


Give your business all these benefits by investing in a vertical baler from PackSmart. We have automatic and manual baling machines that fit various budgets and meet high safety and performance standards. Shop with us today, or call to speak with a specialist who can help you find the right machine for your business.

The Benefits of Using a Vertical Baler for Your Business